Bahlil Clarifies on Indonesia's Fuel Stock Supply of 21-23 Days: Here's the Explanation

Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has clarified misinformation circulating about Indonesia’s national fuel oil (BBM) reserves, which have been cited as sufficient for approximately 21-23 days. This figure has frequently been misinterpreted as the timeframe until domestic fuel supplies are exhausted.

Bahlil emphasised that the 21 to 23-day figure commonly referenced actually refers to fuel storage capacity, not the reserve quantity indicating supplies will deplete within that period.

“But it doesn’t mean this 23 days will run out, that’s not what it means. It’s the storage capacity. Today it’s 23 days, some goes out for example 1 million kilolitres, some comes in again. Because our production keeps running,” Bahlil stated during the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Bukan Abuleke Podcast on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

Bahlil revealed that since Indonesia’s independence, the government has never constructed fuel storage facilities with a capacity exceeding 25 days. When national oil production was still high, building large-capacity storage was not prioritised.

“Since Indonesia’s independence, back in the New Order era when our lifting was good, we never considered building storage facilities with a capacity of more than 25 days,” Bahlil explained.

Concerns about disruptions to global energy supply have triggered panic buying of fuel not only in several regions of Indonesia but also in various countries worldwide. This phenomenon emerged following escalating Middle East conflict between the United States-Israel and Iran, raising concerns about a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which approximately 20% of world oil trade passes.

Several countries have begun reporting long queues of vehicles at fuel stations, as the public fears fuel prices will surge or supplies will be disrupted.